Added a few new bits on the weekend to try to add some steering feel:
Whiteline steering rack bushings and Group A front & rear endlinks. Was planning on adding Whiteline lower control arm bushings as well but it is a big job as you need to remove the control arms to press out the existing bushings....save that one for another day.
Results:
Suspension - steering:
-more solid feeling on-center and more resistance when turning the wheel (which is good)
-car is very neutral at the limit in sweeping corners..very little understeer and the rear end is settled
-less roll through fast 90 degree corners (ie the sways are working better with the stronger endlinks).
The only issue(s) I see (which are not a big deal to me) are:
-slightly more NVH through the wheel from the bushings
-slightly stiffer ride with the endlinks (to be expected)
Other:
Stock bushes all over the car are really soft, maybe softer than the last generation STI, which is great for comfort, not so great for driving hard.
The front endlinks are a good fit on the stock bar, better than others that have been posted on the board. Still, aftermarket sway bars should be made a bit longer to allow for the fact that aftermarket endlinks are not rose jointed like the stockers.
Going to do a good alignment tomorrow which should help even more by adding 0 degree toe. When I get the LCA bushings in place I will try 0.5 degrees increase in the caster as well.
Stock rears
Group A rear endlinks vs puny stockers
Rears installed
Stock front endlinks
Group A front endlinks vs stock fronts.
Group A front endlinks in place (not under load)
Endlinks under load (would like to see aftermarket bars a bit longer as the stock bar is a bit short for non rose jointed endlinks)
